"HONG KONG (AFP) - Almost half of Hong Kong's aid package to help China's quake-stricken Sichuan will be used to restore a giant panda reserve, the government said Sunday Hong Kong's government said it would spend 863 million of its 2 billion Hong Kong dollar (256 million US) commitment on a 4.5 kilometre road leading to Wolong Nature Reserve in the country's southwest province, which was devastated by a 8.00-magnitude quake in May".

Yes, pandas are easy on the eye and do tend to bring out the sentimentalist in otherwise hard-nosed types, but note this:

"Official figures state that 69,197 are confirmed dead, including 68,636 in Sichuan province, and 374,176 injured, with 18,222 listed as missing. The earthquake left about 4.8 million people homeless though the number could be as high as 11 million".